Effects of Prolonged Online Classes

 Since last two years, world has been badly struck by pandemic caused due to novel corona virus, which made people of all ages technology efficient, but the most affected by this concept of wfh (work from home) is the young generation, may it be toddlers who were about to start their play schools or formal education through schools or primary & middle school children. In fact, many studies have been published showing behavioural changes in adolescents as well. 

Online learning has helped students to become independent learners before they see the world with their own vision and make their way into the real world. Students have got opportunities to explore new learning applications and platforms along with their classes, which helped them to develop new skills and capabilities accelerating their growth trajectory. Over the period of time, some of them have developed self- discipline and are able to accommodate the situations on their own even when they have working parents.

The skill that is highly effected is the writing skill of students, now to facilitate online exams, whether at school, college, university level, multiple choice questions is some where or other considered to be the better form of evaluating, which in turn has taken the writing skills or it can be said that it has much hindered young children from learning to write and the professional guidance provided by the respective teachers is also missing as in online mode, duration of classes has been reduced tremendously and students do not have a direct and personal touch with teachers.

On the other hand, teachers are going through a different dilemma in this context, they are need to invest double of the time to prepare for their online lectures and still are not feeling much satisfied with the delivery. Above all, this system of education has increased the screen time of all, students, teachers, parents, which is serious effects on health of all.

Gradually, there is a saturation in this online teaching- learning platform, only the self- disciplined people are able to perform up to the mark else situation is worsening day- by- day. Lack of interest, stress and anxiety are other hurdles that have become problems of the society as a whole. The level of concentration amongst students have dropped in online learning as the eye meanders elsewhere on the screen and there are no teachers physically available or for some no parents even around to help them with this as many have started working physically or in so called hybrid mode.

Zoom fatigue is a concept that refers to the exhaustion after having attended zoom classes, or video conferences. With the increasing screen time, the mind is overwhelmed with a lot of information and thoughts which the brain finds it rather difficult to register and recognise all the information.

Eyesight problems, lack of classroom ethics, bad ergonomics, lack of physical activities, vitamin D, calcium are further aggravating the problem.

This online concept on one hand has proved to be helpful in keeping our life moving, when the world came to a standstill. It is of grave important for us to keep in mind all the spheres in this context to prevent any future harm that might turn into lifelong prolonged problems. The health hazards posed by this online work concept would go for long, but this may also be lead in sustainability, a person must realise the importance of physical activities, may it be yoga or any kind of exercises, today there are more new concepts like mindfulness, which further helps an individual by doing certain breathing exercises, one can concentrate on inner self and meditate. This has proved to be helpful in cohabitating with today’s stressful online or work from home life. Further the diet and sleep patterns are also important factors which helps to increase the flow of oxygen in bloodstream and further improves the health conditions. 

So, the effects of prolonged online classes can be easily mitigated through certain points while kept in mind and on the other hand one would be able keep oneself safe from pandemic which is the need of the hour. It’s all about being adaptive which would help to adjust with the harmful effects of the prolonged hours in front of screen and would help the students and teachers as well to fulfil their duties and responsibilities from home.

 

Dr. Rashi Gupta

Assistant Professor

Department of Management Studies

JIMS Engineering Management Technical Campus

(Best Engineering & Management College in Greater Noida)